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.motherhood, being a working mum, breakfast radio show, early shift, lack of sleep, Parenting, radio, sleep
The deepest of sleeps. My face is buried in the warm softness of my pillow and my mind is far, far away. Dreaming.
I wake before I hear it. The gentle buzz of the vibration on my phone is enough to stir me from the depths of my fuzz. I reach quickly for the phone before it goes off and rouses the rest of the house. Experience has taught me this.
I roll over, instantly irritated by my snoring husband, fast asleep next to me. Huffing and puffing I pad to the bathroom, avoiding the creaky floorboards on the way. I tiptoe past the toddler’s lair, desperate not to wake her as I brush my teeth and wash my face.
I look dead.
No time for a shower this morning. Sprinkling water under my arms and rubbing vigorously in an attempt at waking up, I shiver into my underwear and pull on the warmest jumper I can find in the pitch black of the bedroom.
Socks go on – probably odd ones – but the shoes I carry in my hand as I haul my limbs over the stair gate. I can’t open it in case I wake my toddler dragon, snoozing a few feet away from me.
I get down the stairs on my backside. I’ve long since learned this is the only way I can guarantee not to set off a musical symphony on the tired floorboards.
It’s 4am.
Feeling along the walls in the black of the alcove I fumble to close the door to the stairs before flicking the light switch. I can’t risk any light seeping into my child’s room. Light is like noise – not conducive to sleep.
Sitting on the frozen tiles in the kitchen, I finally pull on my shoes and scrape a brush through my hair. Tutting (no one is happy at this hour, surely?) I sweep some breadcrumbs off the sideboard and into the sink, muttering to myself about my husband’s inability to tidy up “properly”.
The ice outside glimmers on my car windscreen, taunting me. I clench my teeth and pull on my coat, catching a thread and trying not to swear too loudly. Pocketing my car keys I rummage through my bag for my house keys and delicately remove them, careful not to jangle them noisily.
And then I’m gone. Out into the night.
But not before I’ve turned the light off inside and the security light on outside. Peering through the pane of glass at our back door, I check to make sure there are no burglars in the garden or rats by the bins.
I don’t like burglars. Or rats. And my inner child tells me these are both things to dread when the rest of the world sleeps.
It’s 4.20am.
Time to go to work.
Tell you what, my husband always wakes at 4am so when his stirrings rouse me I’ll think of you empathetically before settling down to sleep another three hours. Any comfort?
Oh yes, I feel much better now. Thank you. *grits teeth*
This is basically my life! Although admittedly an hour later than you. Why do we do it?! Great blog Molly x
For the love of radio?! An inner sadistic streak maybe?! No idea – but it’s always made better by a cup of tea on arriving at work. Thank you for the lovely comment Sarah. x
Bless you, I honestly do not know how you do it. xx
I run up the garden, get in the car and turn the heating onto full pelt – along with the radio!
I hate 4am, it is always the time when I think of burglars if I’m awake! But it is better than 3am, just not quite as okay as 5am! You are amazing! X
When I was younger (18-21) I worked for a recruitment agency and at times like Christmas and New Year we’d do earlies so that we could get the days work done and break up early for the holidays and I used to love getting in at 6.30am. No-one else was in the building except our little office, the phones would rarely ring and we could get loads done in a cosy office while it was dark outside. I used to wish that I could work on earlies permanently, however, ten years later I doubt I could cope with it so you getting up at 4am leaves me in total awe! Having said all of that, I’d absolutely LOVE to do your job, so I might be able to put up with 4am starts for that!
And to think I moan about The Baby waking me at 6am!
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Fantastic post. I don’t know how you do it!
How can I ever complain about being woken at 5.55am by a twin who can’t sleep again?
I take my hat off to you Mrs